Spoilers follow for the March 5th episode of Smackdown.
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Sorry for the review being late, folks.
Since the WWE World Heavyweight Championship is currently held by someone who rarely shows up on TV, the Intercontinental Championship is becoming a bigger focus. That's swell, but right now it seems more like a joke, even if a bunch of big-name stars are desiring it. Dolph Ziggler opens Smackdown, with the title around his waist, even though he's not currently the champion. He never got a rematch for the title before, he says, but now he's got his chance at WrestleMania, which is looking more and more like it'll be an 8-man ladder match for the belt.
Ziggler is about to say he wants Daniel Bryan in the match, too, but Bad News Barrett comes out instead. He wants his title back, rightfully so. I like how it's a heel move to want the championship that's his. Luke Harper winds up ambushing Ziggler before Barrett and Ziggler can square off. The heels double team Ziggler, but Ambrose makes the save. They all brawl, and R-Truth sneaks in and once again steals the belt. What a true babyface.
R-Truth then gets interviewed backstage about the championship. He tries to give it away to Renee Young.
Los Matadores (Diego and Fernando with El Torito) vs. Cesaro and Tyson Kidd (with Natalya)
A fast-paced match, but not one that's particularly enjoyable. El Torito kicks Cesaro in the ring, but that doesn't result in a disqualification. Cesaro and Kidd hold momentum for most of the match, and then they win. Boring.
Match Rating: *1/2
Big Show and Kane have a segment backstage. They both enter themselves into the Andre the Giant Battle Royal.
Ryback vs. Kane (with Big Show)
I feel like we've seen this match a dozen times over the last few months. Maybe that's just a feeling. This isn't one of their better ones. It's short, not particularly interesting, and makes Kane look weak. He loses to a Meat Hook Clothesline.
Match Rating: *1/2
Kane grabs a microphone and announces Ryback vs. Big Show for right now.
Ryback vs. Big Show
Kane remains at ringside. This is almost an identical match to the last one, except that the distraction Kane provided actually worked, unlike Big Show's in the first match. Regardless, it's boring, short, and not worth seeing.
Match Rating: *1/2
Bray Wyatt cuts a promo. He has Undertaker's urn. He'll unleash its spirit on Monday.
The Bella Twins come down to the ring after a Raw flashback. They're here to talk about #GiveDivasaChance. Nikki is still okay on the mic, while Brie ... just isn't. They cut down AJ and Paige, prop themselves up, and remind us that the Bellas work so much better as heels.
Brie Bella (with Nikki Bella) vs. AJ Lee (with Paige)
Well, you can't talk about #GiveDivasaChance and then have a bad match. So, Brie and AJ have a very solid match. Or, maybe it just felt that way given how bad the ones that preceded it were. There's a lot of athleticism on display here, a decent pace, some good spots, and it's quite good overall. Brie dominates most of the match, because AJ is the best seller in the Divas division. Paige stops Nikki from interfering, there's a fun staredown between all four, and AJ winds up winning with the Black Widow.
Match Rating: ***
I feel like AJ does need a better way to set up the Black Widow. It just sort of happens and then she wins. There's no build. Whatever. Minor complaint.
Daniel Bryan gets interviewed backstage. He props up the Intercontinental Championship.
The New Day (Big E and Kofi Kingston, with Xavier Woods) vs. The Miz and Damien Sandow
Miz wrestles another handicap match, at least for the start, before Sandow tags himself in. But Miz does the same, they have a staredown, Sandow relents, and the distraction lets The New Day win. Boring match is boring.
Match Rating: *1/2
Roman Reigns gets interviewed backstage. Nothing important is said. Brock Lesnar gets props.
Jack Swagger vs. Rusev (with Lana)
Remember that time when we thought that maybe Swagger would be able to beat Rusev? That time has passed. Swagger does get in some offense, and in fact dominates a decent portion of the match, but it's just no contest. We know Rusev's going to win. He does. Submission victory via The Accolade.
Match Rating: **
Curtis Axel gets a promo on the big screen, and wants a United States Championship match.
Cameron cuts a promo backstage. Cameron thinks she deserves a chance. Summer Rae and Eva Marie both interrupt and say they deserve it more. Yes, Eva Marie mic time! Best Smackdown ever.
Bad News Barrett and Luke Harper vs. Dolph Ziggler and Dean Ambrose
R-Truth is once again on commentary. Can we not do that?
This is a fine match, but it felt too short, and the stakes are just really nonexistent. It's good to see four talented in-ring competitors squaring off, though, and it works as a preview for the ladder match we're going to get. That's what it exists for. Next week, Bryan will probably officially be in the mix. Maybe Truth will turn heel and we can have a 6-man match.
Ziggler eventually picks up the win with the Zig Zag on Luke Harper.
Match Rating: ***
Barrett attacks the faces afterward, and then approaches Truth. Ambrose attacks Barrett, and Truth tries to escape. He attacks and manages to get past Harper. Bryan's music hits as Truth gets up the ramp, and he gives the title to Bryan. We think Smackdown will end here, but Stardust then attacks Bryan and that's how the show ends.
The Good: Eva Marie mic time! Bella/Lee. Barrett & Harper/Ziggler & Ambrose.
The Bad: Los Matadores/Cesaro & Kidd. Ryback/Kane. Ryback/Show. New Day/Miz & Sandow.
Match of the Night: Brie Bella vs. AJ Lee.
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Sorry for the review being late, folks.
Since the WWE World Heavyweight Championship is currently held by someone who rarely shows up on TV, the Intercontinental Championship is becoming a bigger focus. That's swell, but right now it seems more like a joke, even if a bunch of big-name stars are desiring it. Dolph Ziggler opens Smackdown, with the title around his waist, even though he's not currently the champion. He never got a rematch for the title before, he says, but now he's got his chance at WrestleMania, which is looking more and more like it'll be an 8-man ladder match for the belt.
Ziggler is about to say he wants Daniel Bryan in the match, too, but Bad News Barrett comes out instead. He wants his title back, rightfully so. I like how it's a heel move to want the championship that's his. Luke Harper winds up ambushing Ziggler before Barrett and Ziggler can square off. The heels double team Ziggler, but Ambrose makes the save. They all brawl, and R-Truth sneaks in and once again steals the belt. What a true babyface.
R-Truth then gets interviewed backstage about the championship. He tries to give it away to Renee Young.
Los Matadores (Diego and Fernando with El Torito) vs. Cesaro and Tyson Kidd (with Natalya)
A fast-paced match, but not one that's particularly enjoyable. El Torito kicks Cesaro in the ring, but that doesn't result in a disqualification. Cesaro and Kidd hold momentum for most of the match, and then they win. Boring.
Match Rating: *1/2
Big Show and Kane have a segment backstage. They both enter themselves into the Andre the Giant Battle Royal.
Ryback vs. Kane (with Big Show)
I feel like we've seen this match a dozen times over the last few months. Maybe that's just a feeling. This isn't one of their better ones. It's short, not particularly interesting, and makes Kane look weak. He loses to a Meat Hook Clothesline.
Match Rating: *1/2
Kane grabs a microphone and announces Ryback vs. Big Show for right now.
Ryback vs. Big Show
Kane remains at ringside. This is almost an identical match to the last one, except that the distraction Kane provided actually worked, unlike Big Show's in the first match. Regardless, it's boring, short, and not worth seeing.
Match Rating: *1/2
Bray Wyatt cuts a promo. He has Undertaker's urn. He'll unleash its spirit on Monday.
The Bella Twins come down to the ring after a Raw flashback. They're here to talk about #GiveDivasaChance. Nikki is still okay on the mic, while Brie ... just isn't. They cut down AJ and Paige, prop themselves up, and remind us that the Bellas work so much better as heels.
Brie Bella (with Nikki Bella) vs. AJ Lee (with Paige)
Well, you can't talk about #GiveDivasaChance and then have a bad match. So, Brie and AJ have a very solid match. Or, maybe it just felt that way given how bad the ones that preceded it were. There's a lot of athleticism on display here, a decent pace, some good spots, and it's quite good overall. Brie dominates most of the match, because AJ is the best seller in the Divas division. Paige stops Nikki from interfering, there's a fun staredown between all four, and AJ winds up winning with the Black Widow.
Match Rating: ***
I feel like AJ does need a better way to set up the Black Widow. It just sort of happens and then she wins. There's no build. Whatever. Minor complaint.
Daniel Bryan gets interviewed backstage. He props up the Intercontinental Championship.
The New Day (Big E and Kofi Kingston, with Xavier Woods) vs. The Miz and Damien Sandow
Miz wrestles another handicap match, at least for the start, before Sandow tags himself in. But Miz does the same, they have a staredown, Sandow relents, and the distraction lets The New Day win. Boring match is boring.
Match Rating: *1/2
Roman Reigns gets interviewed backstage. Nothing important is said. Brock Lesnar gets props.
Jack Swagger vs. Rusev (with Lana)
Remember that time when we thought that maybe Swagger would be able to beat Rusev? That time has passed. Swagger does get in some offense, and in fact dominates a decent portion of the match, but it's just no contest. We know Rusev's going to win. He does. Submission victory via The Accolade.
Match Rating: **
Curtis Axel gets a promo on the big screen, and wants a United States Championship match.
Cameron cuts a promo backstage. Cameron thinks she deserves a chance. Summer Rae and Eva Marie both interrupt and say they deserve it more. Yes, Eva Marie mic time! Best Smackdown ever.
Bad News Barrett and Luke Harper vs. Dolph Ziggler and Dean Ambrose
R-Truth is once again on commentary. Can we not do that?
This is a fine match, but it felt too short, and the stakes are just really nonexistent. It's good to see four talented in-ring competitors squaring off, though, and it works as a preview for the ladder match we're going to get. That's what it exists for. Next week, Bryan will probably officially be in the mix. Maybe Truth will turn heel and we can have a 6-man match.
Ziggler eventually picks up the win with the Zig Zag on Luke Harper.
Match Rating: ***
Barrett attacks the faces afterward, and then approaches Truth. Ambrose attacks Barrett, and Truth tries to escape. He attacks and manages to get past Harper. Bryan's music hits as Truth gets up the ramp, and he gives the title to Bryan. We think Smackdown will end here, but Stardust then attacks Bryan and that's how the show ends.
The Good: Eva Marie mic time! Bella/Lee. Barrett & Harper/Ziggler & Ambrose.
The Bad: Los Matadores/Cesaro & Kidd. Ryback/Kane. Ryback/Show. New Day/Miz & Sandow.
Match of the Night: Brie Bella vs. AJ Lee.
<color=D6D9DA>_________________________________________________________________________________
If you wish to be notified whenever I post something new, please join this <url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/groups/view/2-50-Reviews>user group.
For an archive of all my previous WWE reviews, please go <url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.846764-Marters-WWE-Reviews-Archive>here.
Talk to me on the Twitter, <url=https://twitter.com/martertweet>@martertweet.
